Strumming Basics

Chords are the harmony; strumming is the heartbeat. A steady downstroke pattern on open chords is enough to play hundreds of songs.

The Downstroke

Hold your pick lightly. Strum through the strings from low to high (or through the strings that belong to the chord). Move from the wrist—small motion, not a whole-arm swing.

Start on Em—every string rings, so it's forgiving:

X:1
T:Quarter-Note Downstrokes on Em
K:Em
M:4/4
L:1/4
"Em"[EGB] [EGB] [EGB] [EGB] | [EGB] [EGB] [EGB] [EGB] ||

One strum per beat. Count 1, 2, 3, 4 aloud.

Down and Up — Eighth Notes

Add upstrokes on the "and" between beats: 1-and 2-and 3-and 4-and.

X:2
T:Down-Up Strumming on G
K:G
M:4/4
L:1/8
"G"[GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] | [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] | [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] | [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] ||

Down on numbers, up on "and" (or all downs until that feels easy—no shame in building slowly).

Classic Folk Pattern

Many songs use a steady pulse with emphasis on beats 1 and 3:

X:3
T:Em to G — Four-Bar Strum
K:G
M:4/4
L:1/4
"Em" [EGB] [EGB] [EGB] [EGB] | [EGB] [EGB] [EGB] [EGB] | "G" [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] | [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] [GBd] ||

Two bars Em, two bars G. Loop it until your right hand stays relaxed.

Muting and Control

Not every strum needs all six strings. On D, strum only the top four. On C, avoid the low E. Chords diagrams show which strings to include.

Tempo and the Metronome

Play slowly enough that downstrokes land exactly on the beat. Speed up only when the pattern feels automatic—usually around 60–80 BPM for beginners.

X:4
T:C Chord Steady Eighths
K:C
M:4/4
L:1/8
"C"[CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] | [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] | [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] | [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] [CEG] ||

Use Chords to see the open shapes; strum the full chord on each beat or eighth-note stroke.

Video Resource

Must Know Strumming Patterns for Acoustic Guitar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSO4nfewpJU

—quarter-note downstrums, eighth-note down-up motion, syncopation, and beginner sixteenth-note patterns.

Practice tip: Tap your foot on the beat while strumming. Foot + hand together builds an internal pulse you'll rely on when changing chords.

Further viewing

Video Resource

Learn Guitar Strumming in 5 Minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xoCjbpcOQg

—muted-string practice, steady arm motion, and first down-up patterns
Video Resource

Beginner Guitar Strumming: Down Down Up Up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF661jj7QdU

(Marty Music)—a common song pattern with chord-switching practice

Next: moving between chords without losing the beat.